A majority of Arizonans think the public education system is “below average” or “poor” and that state funding levels merit the same description, according to a recent phone poll of likely voters.

This isn’t a surprise. But it should serve as one more push for our state lawmakers to get their act together and finally — finally — pay what the courts have said the Legislature owes schools in back pay. Talks have broken down after months of negotiations, and the Legislature is appealing the court decisions that require it to pay $331 million a year in unpaid obligations.